Strap handle anchorage

ABSTRACT

A strap handle is anchored in place by a retainer formed to straddle the end of the handle so that a fastener can be driven through a hole in the retainer and through the end of the handle into a mounting structure. The retainer has fins projecting outward along the edges of the strap handle, and an escutcheon plate shaped to cover the retainer and the end of the handle has internally opening slots to receive and slide over the retainer fins which are shaped to lock in the slots to hold the escutcheon plate in place.

United States Patent Smoot 1 Dec. 26, 1972 [541 STRAP HANDLE ANCHORAGE [72] lnventor: Edward H. Smoot, Holcomb, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: The Schlegel Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N.Y.

[22] Filed: June 21, 1071 [21] Appl. No.: 154,740

52 us. Cl ..16/125, 24/265 51 Int. Cl ..A 47b 95/02 [58] Field of Search ....l6/125, 110, 124; 24/265 EC,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,183,549 5/1965 Hammesfahr ..16/125 9/1967 Tanaka ..24/230A Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Attorney-George W. Shaw [5 7] ABSTRACT A strap handle is anchored in place by a retainer formed to straddle the end of the handle so that a fastener can be driven through a hole in the retainer and through the end of the handle into a mounting structure. The retainer has fins projecting outward along the edges of the strap handle, and an escutcheon plate shaped to cover the retainer and the end of the handle has internally opening slots to receive and slide over the retainer fins which are shaped to lock in the slots to hold the escutcheon plate in place.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEBZS I972 FIG. I

FIG. 3

INVENTOR. EDMRD H. SMOOT ATTORNEYS STRAP HANDLE ANCHORAGE THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Anchorages for strap handles used for carrying cases, door pulls, etc. have presented problems in the past. They must be strong and secure so as not to break or come loose in use, and they must be attractive in appearance. Also, these requirements must be met with the minimum expense compatible with high quality, and prior art anchorages have varied widely in seeking the optimum solution.

The invention involves a recognition of the requirements for strap hanger anchorages and proposes a simpler, and better anchorage that performs as desired, is attractive in appearance, and is more efficient and economical in using less expensive parts and saving on installation costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive strap handle anchorage uses a retainer formed to straddle the side edges of the strap handle at its end region, and the retainer has a hole arranged over the strap handle. A fastener is driven through the hole, through the strap handle, and into a mounting structure..The retainer has fins projecting outward along the side edges of the strap handle, and an escutcheon plate shaped to cover the retainer and the end of the strap has internally opening slots to receive and slide over the tins of the retainer. The fins are shaped to lock in the slots to hold the escutcheon plate in place.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive strap hanger anchorage;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the anchorage of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2 2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the anchorage of FIG. 1 in partial assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a partly cross-sectioned, elevational view of the anchorage of FIG. 3 in partial assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Strap handle is anchored to a mounting structure 11 such as a carrying case or automobile door. Handle 10 is then used for gripping, lifting, pulling, etc. and must be securely anchored in place. This is accomplished by a retainer 12 that straddles the side edges 13 of handle 10 at the end region of handle 10 and has a hole arranged over handle 10 to receive a screw fastener 14 driven through the hole, through handle 10 and into mounting structure 11. Fastener 14 is preferably a self-tapping screw that secures retainer 12 and handle 10 securely to mounting structure 11. A rivet or other fastener is also acceptable, but screw 14 is preferred for ease and efficiency in its capacity to be driven directly through handle 10 and into mounting structure 11.

Retainer 12 is preferably stamped of sheet metal in the channel shape illustrated in the drawings and is formed to have fins l5 projecting outward along edges 13 of handle 10. Fins 15 are preferably made slightly oblique to the top plane of retainer 12 as best shown in FIG. 4.

An escutcheon plate 16 is formed with a hollow interior shaped to cover retainer 12 and the end of handle 10. Escutcheon plate 16 is preferably molded of synthetic resin material and is arranged to slide over and cover retainer 12 to present an attractive external appearance. Escutcheon plate 16 has a pair of internally opening slots 17 running longitudinally in alignment with retainer fins 15 so that escutcheon plate 16 can slide endwise over retainer 12 with fins l5 entering slots 17. The oblique angle of fins 15 causes them to bite into the edges of slots 17 to resist removal of escutcheon plate 16. This holds escutcheon plate 16 securely in place without any additional fasteners or in stallation operations. I

The inventive anchorage affords economical and efficient installation of strap handle 10 be merely cutting off the desired length of handle 10 from a supply roll, pressing retainers 12 over the ends of handle 10, driving screws 14 through retainers l2, handle 10, and mounting structure 11, and then merely sliding escutcheon plates 16 over the ends of handle 10 and retainers 12. This is far simpler and cheaper than prior art methods, and saves in both materials and installation time. Retainers 12 and escutcheons 16 are identical for each end of strap 10, and strap 10 can be supplied in indefinite lengths that are cut to the approximate desired size at the installation point, thus eliminating problems of part numbers and inventory during assembly.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate the economy and functionality of the inventive anchorage, and will understand how to apply it to various strap handles.

I claim:

1. A strap handle anchorage comprising:

a. a retainer formed to straddle the side edges of said strap handle over the end region of said strap handle;

b. said retainer having a hole arranged over said strap handle;

c. a fastener driven through said hole and through said strap handle and into a mounting structure for said strap handle;

d. said retainer having fins projecting outward along said edges of said strap handle;

e. an escutcheon plate shaped to cover said retainer and said end region of said strap handle;

f. said escutcheon plate having internally opening slots to receive and slide over said fins of said said escutcheon plate to resist removal of said escutcheon plate from said retainer.

I! I I I l 

1. A strap handle anchorage comprising: a. a retainer formed to straddle the side edges of said strap handle over the end region of said strap handle; b. said retainer having a hole arranged over said strap handle; c. a fastener driven through said hole and through said strap handle and into a mounting structure for said strap handle; d. said retainer having fins projecting outward along said edges of said strap handle; e. an escutcheon plate shaped to cover said retainer and said end region of said strap handle; f. said escutcheon plate having internally opening slots to receive and slide over said fins of said retainer; and g. said fins being shaped to lock in said slots to hold said escutcheon plate in place over said retainer.
 2. The anchorage of claim 1 wherein said retainer is formed of stamped sheet metal.
 3. The anchorage of claim 1 wherein said fastener is a self-tapping screw.
 4. The anchorage of claim 1 wherein said escutcheon plate is formed of molded resin material.
 5. The anchorage of claim 1 wherein said fins have oblique edges that move into said slots and bite into said escutcheon plate to resist removal of said escutcheon plate from said retainer. 